@spjfreelance.bsky.social Good Morning, Freelancers!! It's Friday brag post time! What have you accomplished lately? What are you proud of? Or, is there any advice or wisdom you'd like to share? Sound off in this thread 👇
James Mae
@jamesmae.bsky.social
Hi y'all, I'm James. I am a freelance journalist and member of SPJ Freelance.
@nppa.org has joined again w/several of our 1st Amendment & free press allies in a letter to the LAPD & LASD remind them of journalist’s rights. See below. We remain steadfast in our mission to make sure 1st Amendment rights are upheld across the United States of America. 🇺🇸
Freedom of the Press Foundation@freedom.press · last yr.The deployment of federal agencies to LA may be getting the headlines, but many of the most serious abuses have come from local police. We helped lead a letter to the LAPD and LASD reminding them of journalists' rights and the liability they're risking: media.freedom.press/media/docume...
@spjdc.bsky.social @spjfreelance.bsky.social TODAY is the day! Join us at 6 p.m. EDT on Zoom for a convo with Axel Ebermann and Irvin McCullough on FOIA and AI. We will cover: Using AI in requesting. AI and FOIA fulfillment. Answer your FOIA and AI ?s us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Video Conferencing, Web Conferencing, Webinars, Screen Sharing
Zoom is the leader in modern enterprise video communications, with an easy, reliable cloud platform for video and audio conferencing, chat, and webinars across mobile, desktop, and room systems. Zoom ...
us06web.zoom.us
There is still time to register for next week's FOIA and AI webinar! us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Video Conferencing, Web Conferencing, Webinars, Screen Sharing
Zoom is the leader in modern enterprise video communications, with an easy, reliable cloud platform for video and audio conferencing, chat, and webinars across mobile, desktop, and room systems. Zoom ...
us06web.zoom.us
spjdc.org/event/is-ai-... I'm so excited to host this @spjdc.bsky.social webinar on FOIA and AI! @spjfreelance.bsky.social
Is AI the Cure for FOIA Frustration? - Washington, D.C., Pro SPJ Chapter
When: May 19, 2025 @ 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm Join the SPJ D.C. Pro Chapter on Monday, May 19 at 6 p.m. ET for a discussion on AI and FOIA. Alex Ebermann, President, New York Coalition for Open Government...
spjdc.org
apnews.com/article/trum... Trump signs executive order directing federal funding cuts to PBS and NPR (Hey yeah so this was something Congress was still debating)
Trump signs executive order directing federal funding cuts to PBS and NPR
President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order aiming to slash public subsidies to PBS and NPR as he alleged “bias” in the broadcasters’ reporting.
apnews.com
@spjdc.bsky.social posted my article about Sunshine Fest! spjdc.org/2025/04/trum...
Trump administration firings affect document requests - Washington, D.C., Pro SPJ Chapter
The 2025 Sunshine Week conference held March 20 highlighted new obstacles to holding government agencies accountable. Freelance journalist and soon to be Georgetown University student, James Mae atten...
spjdc.org
I'm taking a class about using AI as a journalist, and I decided to play around with ChatGPT and plug the Ohio Budget bill into it to summarize it and compare it to previous budgets. It spit this out. This could be a helpful jumping-off point for further research. Thoughts?
2 Ohio senators introduced Ohio's own 'Save Act'. S.B. 96 would change zoning laws and regulations around voter rolls and require 'proof of citizenship' when registering to vote. This comes amid the Ohio primary voting season.
www.businessinsider.com/gen-z-most-r... This 👏. As a Gen Z-er I can confirm all this. I get so many rejection emails ( if I even get an email) I don’t even open them anymore. It’s good to know I’m not alone but I hate this is how it is. We are working yet struggling so hard! 😣
'I thought I was going to be someone': how Gen Z became a generation of rejects
Whether it's LinkedIn or Tinder, Gen Zers are constantly being told "no." It's sending their anxiety and loneliness into overdrive.
businessinsider.com
See this is how records requesting should be. I submitted it yesterday, it was filled today 🤩
Made a public records request today... will probably make a public records request tomorrow 🤠
www.newyorker.com/culture/open... I'm seeing more and more discussion surrounding AI. Ever since Sunshine Fest I have been looking into the AI and FOIA debate and the questions 'should journalists and local govts. use this tech to make the records requesting process more efficient?'
Are We Taking A.I. Seriously Enough?
There’s no longer any scenario in which A.I. fades into irrelevance. We urgently need voices from outside the industry to help shape its future.
newyorker.com
I'm working on growing my career and finding a full-time journalism job. So, I need to put Starlight Stories on hold as I can't put my all into that work at the moment. Idk where my path is headed but I'm excited for the journey and grateful for all the help along the way!
Had a great time at @nationalpress.bsky.social career day today! Got to network, connect w/ employers and learn more about how to be successful in the job search. Hopefully, this will help me transition from freelancing to a full time journalism job. Thanks for hosting!
11 U.S. organizations just asked the Open Government Partnership to put the U.S. under review for open government and transparency violations. americalabs.org/2025/03/21/u...
US Orgs Ask Open Government Partnership to Place US Government Under Review
Eleven Civil Society Organizations request the Open Government Partnership place the United States Government under review for actions contrary to the principles and policies of the partnership.
americalabs.org
I had a great time at the @sunshineweek.bsky.social FOIA conference yesterday! I got to meet some amazing people across sectors and learn about the state of FOIA and current issues regarding government transparency and accountability. I took some photos so I got your pic tag this post!
Shutting down VOA and its affialtes was explicitly outlined in Project 2025. Now we are seeing this conservative promise come to reality.
@spj-posts.bsky.social Done! A free and open press is a non-partisan issue and a cornerstone of our Democracy. I'm proud to be in this industry and will always support my fellow journalists.
Sorry folks I won't be publishing my weekly newsletter today. I just got really busy really fast. Instead I'll be working on a pitch, doing some SPJ work and working on some other exciting endeavor's 🤭. Happy Freelance Friday! Hope you have a great day!
Now this is what innovative journalism looks like! As journalists I feel like we get so enshrined in our beats we forget to see just how connected everything is. But we can really do great work when we dig deep and make the connections. @wired.com Keep up the great work! apnews.com/article/elon...
Not known for political coverage, Wired takes a leading role in tracking Elon Musk's team
The tech outlet Wired set up a new politics team in time for the presidential election — but its most impactful work is coming after the election is over.
apnews.com
Howdy folks! Happy Sunday! I started a new newsletter on my Starlight Stories Substack. This week's post focuses on the growing threats to press freedom, one of the topics I'm passionate about. open.substack.com/pub/starligh...
The Nameless Newsletter
The growing threat to press freedom
open.substack.com
www.npr.org/2025/03/01/g... Wow, I want to say I'm shocked but, given the current admins views on a free press, I'm not. Another great article by David Folkenflik.
Voice of America bias inquiry sparks concerns of political meddling
Voice of America is reviewing the social media posts of a reporter for possible bias against the Trump Administration. The review is sparking concerns of political meddling.
npr.org
I'm working on some pitches and my research brought me to Project 2025. I thought it might be interesting to track the doc vs what is actually occurring. Full details in the 'Into' tab on the sheet! HMU if you want to add to it. docs.google.com/spreadsheets... @spjfreelance.bsky.social
www.daytondailynews.com/ideas-voices... After months of gathering information and working to get something published on this topic, I finally got a column in my local paper about the homeless crisis. @spjfreelance.bsky.social @daytondailynews.bsky.social
VOICES: Immediate action required to address homeless crisis
I write this as I’m sitting in my warm, cozy apartment. However, some may read this while resting on a bench, faring the frigid winter cold, in their car in a sketchy parking lot, or a cramped shelter...
daytondailynews.com
I wanted to venture into broadcast journalism, so I joined a local public TV station. The first video I did for them just came out. (I reported, produced, and edited all by myself—it's definitely a rough start, but you gotta start somewhere!) dayton.cablecast.tv:8080/CablecastPub...
dayton.cablecast.tv
With help from the team, I wrote this in our freelance newsletter this week. I am reposting it to spread the word. Know I am also here to support our community. Even if you just need a virtual hug hmu! @SPJFreelance
